Contents

Description

An Arch Window is a base object for all kinds of "embeddable" objects, such as windows and doors. It is designed to be either independent, or "hosted" inside another component such as an Arch Wall, Arch Structure, or Arch Roof. It has its own geometry, that can be made of several solid components (commonly a frame and inner panels), and also defines a volume to be subtracted from the host objects, in order to create an opening.

Window objects are based on closed 2D objects, such as Draft Rectangles or Sketches, that are used to define their inner components. The base 2D object must therefore contain several closed wires, that can be combined to form filled panels (one wire) or frames (several wires).

The Window tool features several presets; this allows the user to create common types of windows and doors with certain editable parameters, without the need for the user to create the base 2D objects and components manually.

All information applicable to an Arch Window also applies to an Arch Door, as it's the same underlying object. The main difference between a Window and a Door is that the Door has an internal panel that is shown opaque (the door itself), while the Window has a panel that is partially transparent (the glass).

Window constructed on top of a Draft Rectangle, then inserted into an Arch Wall. Using the Arch Add operation automatically cuts a correct opening in the host wall.

Complex window being constructed on top of a Sketch. When entering the window's edit mode you can create different components, set their thickness, and select and assign wires from the sketch to them.

Usage

Using a preset

In the 3D view, move the window to the location where you wish to place it. If you move the pointer over an Arch Wall, the outline of the window should align itself with the face of that object.

Click on the 3D view with the mouse, or press the Enter key three times to confirm the X, Y, Z coordinates of the placement.

Note: if you install the "Parts Library" from the AddonManager, the window tool will search this library for additional presets. These presets are FreeCAD files containing a single window based on a parametric sketch that has named constrains. You may place additional presets in the parts_library directory so that they are found by the window tool.

To adjust the window components and various properties, enter the window task panel by double-clicking on the created object in the tree view.

Note: when creating the sketch, pay close attention to the creation order of the loops; the numbering of the "wires" in the task panel ("Window elements") depends on this.

Presets

The following presets are available:

Glass door

Simple door

Double-opening window

Fixed window

Single-opening window

Sash-opening window

Building components

Windows can include 3 types of components: panels, frames and louvres. Panels and louvres are made from one closed wire, which gets extruded, while frames are made from 2 or more closed wire, where each one is extruded, then the smaller ones are subtracted from the biggest one. You can access, create, modify and delete components of a window in edit mode (double-click the window in the Tree view). The components have the following properties:

Name: A name for the component

Type: The type of component. Can be "Frame", "Glass panel", "Solid panel" or "Louvres"

Wires: A comma-separated list of wires the component is based on

Thickness: The extrusion thickness of the component

Z Offset: The distance between the component and its base 2D wire(s)

Hinge: This allows you to select an edge from the base 2D object, then set that edge as a hinge for this component and the next ones in the list

Opening mode: If you defined a hinge in this component or any other earlier in the list, setting the opening mode will allow the window to appear open or to display 2D opening symbols in plan or elevation.

Options

If the Auto-includecheckbox on the Window creation task panel is unchecked, the window won't be inserted into any host object on creation.

Add a selected window to a wall by selecting both, then pressing the Arch Add button.

Remove a selected window from a wall by selecting the window, then pressing the Arch Remove button.

When using presets, it is often convenient to turn the "Near" Draft Snap on, so you can snap your window to an existing face.

The hole created by a window in its host object is determined by two properties: DataHole Depth and DataHole Wire (introduced in version 0.17). The Hole Wire number can be picked in the 3D view from the window's task panel available when double-clicking the window in the tree view

Windows can make use of Multi-Materials. The window will search in the attached Multi-Material for material layers with a same name for each of its window component, and use it if any is found. For example, a component named "OuterFrame" will search in the attached Multi-Material, for a material layer named "OuterFrame". If such material layer is found, its material will be attributed to the OuterFrame component. The thickness value of the material layer is disregarded.

Openings

Doors and windows can appear partially or fully open in the 3D model, or can display opening symbols both in plan and/or elevation. Consequently, these will also appear in extracted 2D views generated by Draft Shape2DView or TechDraw Workbench or Drawing Workbench. To obtain this, at least one of the window components must have a hinge and an opening mode defined (see the Building components above). Then, using the DataOpening, DataSymbol Plan or DataSymbol Elevation properties, you can configure the appearance of the window:

A door showing the symbol plan, symbol elevation and opening properties at work

Properties

DataHeight: The height of this window

DataWidth: The width of this window

DataHole Depth: The depth of the hole created by this window in its host object

DataHole Wire: The number of the wire from the base object that is used to create a hole in the host object of this window. This value can be set graphically when double-clicking the window in the tree view. Setting a value of 0 will make the window automatically pick its biggest wire for the hole.